At the election of the Executive Committee in April, 1900, the Society by another vote confirmed the previous decision.  All the old members were re-elected, and those of the majority party polled the heaviest votes.  The two seats vacated by resignation were filled by “Pro-Boers,” and the only new candidate who supported the majority was defeated.  It was clear, therefore, that the voting was not strictly on party lines—­one of the opposition, Charles Charrington, was fourth on the poll—­but that the Society as a whole approved of the non-committal policy.  The Executive Committee had been elected since 1894 by a postal ballot of the whole Society, and on this occasion 509 members, over 62 per cent of the whole, recorded their votes.

The Executive had resolved at the beginning of the war to issue a tract on Imperialism, and at the Annual Meeting in May, 1900, a resolution was passed that it prepare for submission to the members “a constructive criticism from the Socialist standpoint of the actions and programmes of the various political parties.”

Needless to say, Bernard Shaw undertook the difficult job, for at this period all the official pronouncements of the Executive were drafted by him.  At the beginning of September it was announced as nearly ready, and later in the month a proof was sent to every member for criticism, and a meeting was called for the 25th to discuss it.  This was the extreme example of the practice at that time habitual, of inviting the co-operation of every member in our publications.  No less than 134 members returned amended proofs or wrote letters of criticism; and it is recorded that only one of these was opposed to the whole thing, whilst only nine preferred to have no manifesto at all; and another nine objected to material portions.  The great majority were cordial in approval.

Bernard Shaw is fond of posing as the most conceited of persons, but those who have had to do with him in literary matters are aware that no pose was ever more preposterous.  When he has acted as the literary expert of the Fabian Society he has considered every criticism with unruffled courtesy, and dealt with the many fools who always find their way into extreme parties, not according to their folly, but with the careful consideration properly accorded to eminent wisdom.  The business of examining over a hundred marked proofs of a document of 20,000 words, every line of which was more or less controversial, was an immense one, but the author gave every criticism its proper weight, and accepted every useful amendment.  Then came the meeting.  It was held at Clifford’s Inn, and between 130 and 140 members were present, each of whom was entitled to move any amendment on any of the 20,000 words, or any addition to or deletion of them.  Nearly three hours were occupied partly in discussing the controversial portion and partly with the general question of publication.  Only eighteen voted for omitting the part about Imperialism,